Guterres has described himself as “the son of a poor family, of humble people”. He is a Roman Catholic and a former guerrilla fighter. At an Extraordinary Conference of FRETILIN in Sydney, Australia in 1998, Guterres was named General Coordinator of the Council of Armed Resistance. In July 2001, he was elected President of FRETILIN. Guterres was elected to the Constituent Assembly in the August 2001 parliamentary election, and he was subsequently elected by the Constituent Assembly as its President; when East Timor gained its independence in May 2002, the Constituent Assembly was transformed into the National Parliament, with Guterres as its President.

East Timor

East Timor (i/ˌiːstˈtiːmɔːr/) or Timor-Leste (/tiˈmɔːrˈlɛʃteɪ/), Tetum: Timór Lorosa'e, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (Portuguese: República Democrática de Timor-Leste, Tetum: Repúblika Demokrátika Timór-Leste), is a sovereign state in Maritime Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within IndonesianWest Timor. The country's size is about 15,410km2 (5,400 sqmi).

Francisco Guterres "Lú-Olo" | Ita Nia Presidente

Interview with East Timor President Taur Matan Ruak

Former guerrilla leader and ex-army chief Taur Matan Ruak was sworn in as East Timor's new president as the young democracy, devastated by decades of conflict, celebrates 10 years of independence. Duration: 01:02.

First round of East Timor Election gets underway

(20 Mar 2017) East Timor is voting for a new president in an election that will test Asia's newest and poorest nation.
Francisco "Lu Olo" Guterres, a former guerrilla leader from the leftist Fretilin party, is up against seven other candidates Monday. He and the Democratic Party's Antonio de Conceicao, the minister of education and social affairs, are the front-runners.
His biggest challenger was Antonio de Conceicao from the Democratic Party who is current Minister of Education and Social Affairs.
More than 740,000 of the country's 1.1 million people were expected to vote on Monday.
East Timor's transition to democracy has at times been rocky and its leaders have battled massive poverty, unemployment and corruption.
The country is still recovering from a bloody break for independenc...

East Timor votes for new president

Guterres expected to win East Timor presidency

(21 Mar 2017) An unofficial vote count shows a former guerrilla leader has won East Timor's presidency in the first election without UN supervision since peacekeepers left in 2012.
The tally announced on Tuesday by the country's election office, STAE, indicated indicated that Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres had a commanding lead over the Democratic Party's Antonio da Conceicao, who is minister of education and social affairs.
Official results are not expected until next couple of days, but with more than 90 percent of the ballots tallied, Lu-Olo, a 62-year-old former guerrilla commander representing Fretilin, the traditional party of resistance to Indonesian rule, had around 57 percent of votes counted.
Da Conceicao had approximately 32 percent.
To avoid the second round, a candidate has t...

April 10
1. Social Democratic PartyOffice
2. Partysign
3. Social Democrat Party (PSD) presidential candidate Lucia Lobato, with supporters
4. Close up, Lobato speaking
5. Lobato campaign poster
6. Close up, profile, Lobato speaking
7. Close up, Lobato's hands
8. SOUNDBITE: (English), Lucia Lobato, presidential candidate:
"If I only get to 3 I think for me it is wonderful, because it's the first time I stand for an important election like this and I got a lot of support."
April 9
9. Official reading out ballot as the count starts at polling station
10. People listening to counting
11. Vote being tallied next to Lobato's name on board
12. Fretilin presidential candidate Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres voting
13. Prime Minister and candidate Jose Ramos-Horta holding up ink stained finger after voting
14. CandidateFernando "Lasama" De Araujo waiting to vote
April 10
15. SOUNDBITE: (English), Lucia Lobato, presidential candidate:
"We should change, we should have an alternative. So I think it's better for me (and) Ramos-Horta than Lu-Olo (Francisco Guterres). So if Ramos-Horta went to the second round with Lu-Olo, of course I will ask my people to vote to Ramos-Horta. But if Ramos-Horta and Lasama, (go to the second round), I will ask my people to vote to Lasama."
April 9
16. Close up of East Timor's PresidentXanana Gusmao
17. Gusmao outside polling station waiting to vote
April 10
18. SOUNDBITE: (English), Lucia Lobato, presidential candidate:
"Personally I don't agree with Xanana forming his own party, political party, because I like to see him as a national figure, as a man who would stand above all the parties. So if he has his own party we would stand on the same level. So it is not really a situation I would like to see."
19. Women at roadside
20. Closer, women at roadside
21. Another group of women
22. Woman washing
23. Girl in school uniform
24. SOUNDBITE: (English), Lucia Lobato, presidential candidate:
"Because I am a woman I asked the women to vote for me, because you know it's a good opportunity for the women in East Timor to see not only it belongs to the man, the political arena, but women can play an important role in the political life of this country."
25. Presidential Palace
26. Lobato walks through campaign office
STORYLINE
East Timor waited on tenterhooks on Tuesday as ballots were tallied in presidential elections that many hoped would end instability in the young nation a year after it was pushed to the brink of civil war.
In Dili, the mood at the Social Democratic Party office was upbeat.
Its candidate for the Presidency has had a strong showing, with reports from campaign observers giving her the lead in at least three districts and a strong performance in the capital.
For a party that took only six seats (out of 88) in the country's first Parliamentary election it is an impressive showing.
And for its candidate, the only woman in the field of 8, it is an especially important achievement.
Lucia Lobato has lived in East Timor just about all her life, studying law in Indonesia for a short time.
During the independence struggle she lost her parents and 8 of her 11 siblings but her husband and three children have been especially supportive of her political career. Lobato's 17 year-old son used his first vote in her favour.
Early projections don't have her making the second round, but Lobato is almost jubilant at her showing, saying it encourages her to continue in politics and even to make another Presidential run.
Her party is also happy because there is a chance that Fretilin party candidate Francisco Guterres, or "Lu-Olo" as he is popularly known, will not make the second round.
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/6734c4fe29f072094fe2b323474c1860
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

April 10
1. Social Democratic PartyOffice
2. Partysign
3. Social Democrat Party (PSD) presidential candidate Lucia Lobato, with supporters
4. Close up, Lobato speaking
5. Lobato campaign poster
6. Close up, profile, Lobato speaking
7. Close up, Lobato's hands
8. SOUNDBITE: (English), Lucia Lobato, presidential candidate:
"If I only get to 3 I think for me it is wonderful, because it's the first time I stand for an important election like this and I got a lot of support."
April 9
9. Official reading out ballot as the count starts at polling station
10. People listening to counting
11. Vote being tallied next to Lobato's name on board
12. Fretilin presidential candidate Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres voting
13. Prime Minister and candidate Jose Ramos-Horta holding up ink stained finger after voting
14. CandidateFernando "Lasama" De Araujo waiting to vote
April 10
15. SOUNDBITE: (English), Lucia Lobato, presidential candidate:
"We should change, we should have an alternative. So I think it's better for me (and) Ramos-Horta than Lu-Olo (Francisco Guterres). So if Ramos-Horta went to the second round with Lu-Olo, of course I will ask my people to vote to Ramos-Horta. But if Ramos-Horta and Lasama, (go to the second round), I will ask my people to vote to Lasama."
April 9
16. Close up of East Timor's PresidentXanana Gusmao
17. Gusmao outside polling station waiting to vote
April 10
18. SOUNDBITE: (English), Lucia Lobato, presidential candidate:
"Personally I don't agree with Xanana forming his own party, political party, because I like to see him as a national figure, as a man who would stand above all the parties. So if he has his own party we would stand on the same level. So it is not really a situation I would like to see."
19. Women at roadside
20. Closer, women at roadside
21. Another group of women
22. Woman washing
23. Girl in school uniform
24. SOUNDBITE: (English), Lucia Lobato, presidential candidate:
"Because I am a woman I asked the women to vote for me, because you know it's a good opportunity for the women in East Timor to see not only it belongs to the man, the political arena, but women can play an important role in the political life of this country."
25. Presidential Palace
26. Lobato walks through campaign office
STORYLINE
East Timor waited on tenterhooks on Tuesday as ballots were tallied in presidential elections that many hoped would end instability in the young nation a year after it was pushed to the brink of civil war.
In Dili, the mood at the Social Democratic Party office was upbeat.
Its candidate for the Presidency has had a strong showing, with reports from campaign observers giving her the lead in at least three districts and a strong performance in the capital.
For a party that took only six seats (out of 88) in the country's first Parliamentary election it is an impressive showing.
And for its candidate, the only woman in the field of 8, it is an especially important achievement.
Lucia Lobato has lived in East Timor just about all her life, studying law in Indonesia for a short time.
During the independence struggle she lost her parents and 8 of her 11 siblings but her husband and three children have been especially supportive of her political career. Lobato's 17 year-old son used his first vote in her favour.
Early projections don't have her making the second round, but Lobato is almost jubilant at her showing, saying it encourages her to continue in politics and even to make another Presidential run.
Her party is also happy because there is a chance that Fretilin party candidate Francisco Guterres, or "Lu-Olo" as he is popularly known, will not make the second round.
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/6734c4fe29f072094fe2b323474c1860
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

Interview with East Timor President Taur Matan Ruak

Former guerrilla leader and ex-army chief Taur Matan Ruak was sworn in as East Timor's new president as the young democracy, devastated by decades of conflict, ...

Former guerrilla leader and ex-army chief Taur Matan Ruak was sworn in as East Timor's new president as the young democracy, devastated by decades of conflict, celebrates 10 years of independence. Duration: 01:02.

Former guerrilla leader and ex-army chief Taur Matan Ruak was sworn in as East Timor's new president as the young democracy, devastated by decades of conflict, celebrates 10 years of independence. Duration: 01:02.

(20 Mar 2017) East Timor is voting for a new president in an election that will test Asia's newest and poorest nation.
Francisco "Lu Olo" Guterres, a former guerrilla leader from the leftist Fretilin party, is up against seven other candidates Monday. He and the Democratic Party's Antonio de Conceicao, the minister of education and social affairs, are the front-runners.
His biggest challenger was Antonio de Conceicao from the Democratic Party who is current Minister of Education and Social Affairs.
More than 740,000 of the country's 1.1 million people were expected to vote on Monday.
East Timor's transition to democracy has at times been rocky and its leaders have battled massive poverty, unemployment and corruption.
The country is still recovering from a bloody break for independence from Indonesia more than a decade ago.
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/5598650629c523f8fc9c02395d108e90
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

(20 Mar 2017) East Timor is voting for a new president in an election that will test Asia's newest and poorest nation.
Francisco "Lu Olo" Guterres, a former guerrilla leader from the leftist Fretilin party, is up against seven other candidates Monday. He and the Democratic Party's Antonio de Conceicao, the minister of education and social affairs, are the front-runners.
His biggest challenger was Antonio de Conceicao from the Democratic Party who is current Minister of Education and Social Affairs.
More than 740,000 of the country's 1.1 million people were expected to vote on Monday.
East Timor's transition to democracy has at times been rocky and its leaders have battled massive poverty, unemployment and corruption.
The country is still recovering from a bloody break for independence from Indonesia more than a decade ago.
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/5598650629c523f8fc9c02395d108e90
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

Guterres expected to win East Timor presidency

(21 Mar 2017) An unofficial vote count shows a former guerrilla leader has won East Timor's presidency in the first election without UN supervision since peacek...

(21 Mar 2017) An unofficial vote count shows a former guerrilla leader has won East Timor's presidency in the first election without UN supervision since peacekeepers left in 2012.
The tally announced on Tuesday by the country's election office, STAE, indicated indicated that Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres had a commanding lead over the Democratic Party's Antonio da Conceicao, who is minister of education and social affairs.
Official results are not expected until next couple of days, but with more than 90 percent of the ballots tallied, Lu-Olo, a 62-year-old former guerrilla commander representing Fretilin, the traditional party of resistance to Indonesian rule, had around 57 percent of votes counted.
Da Conceicao had approximately 32 percent.
To avoid the second round, a candidate has to win more than 50 per cent of the vote.
East Timor's president has a mostly ceremonial role.
East Timorese voted overwhelmingly in 1999 to end 24 years of brutal Indonesian occupation that killed more than 170,000 people.
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/06dc75aac6a76d50b68af4e341dc442a
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

(21 Mar 2017) An unofficial vote count shows a former guerrilla leader has won East Timor's presidency in the first election without UN supervision since peacekeepers left in 2012.
The tally announced on Tuesday by the country's election office, STAE, indicated indicated that Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres had a commanding lead over the Democratic Party's Antonio da Conceicao, who is minister of education and social affairs.
Official results are not expected until next couple of days, but with more than 90 percent of the ballots tallied, Lu-Olo, a 62-year-old former guerrilla commander representing Fretilin, the traditional party of resistance to Indonesian rule, had around 57 percent of votes counted.
Da Conceicao had approximately 32 percent.
To avoid the second round, a candidate has to win more than 50 per cent of the vote.
East Timor's president has a mostly ceremonial role.
East Timorese voted overwhelmingly in 1999 to end 24 years of brutal Indonesian occupation that killed more than 170,000 people.
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/06dc75aac6a76d50b68af4e341dc442a
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

Fretilin's activities

Fretilin is the largest plitical party in Timor-Leste. It was formed in 1974 and during the Indonsian invasion and occupation, Fretilin spearheaded the East Timorese resistance.
After the referendum in 1999 which the East Timorese voted overwhelmingly to break away from Indonesia, an election was held in 2001 for a Constituent Assembly. During the election Fretilin won nearly 70% of the total seats in the assembly. May other seats went to smaller break away Fretilin parties which formed after 1999.
The Constuent Assembly was transformed in to the National Parliament and Fretilin formed a government of national inclusion.
Early this year a political military crisis took place in Dili resulting in the forced resignation of Timor-Leste's prime minister, Marii Alkatiri, who is also th...

Fretilin's activities

Fretilin is the largest plitical party in Timor-Leste. It was formed in 1974 and during the Indonsian invasion and occupation, Fretilin spearheaded the East Tim...

Fretilin is the largest plitical party in Timor-Leste. It was formed in 1974 and during the Indonsian invasion and occupation, Fretilin spearheaded the East Timorese resistance.
After the referendum in 1999 which the East Timorese voted overwhelmingly to break away from Indonesia, an election was held in 2001 for a Constituent Assembly. During the election Fretilin won nearly 70% of the total seats in the assembly. May other seats went to smaller break away Fretilin parties which formed after 1999.
The Constuent Assembly was transformed in to the National Parliament and Fretilin formed a government of national inclusion.
Early this year a political military crisis took place in Dili resulting in the forced resignation of Timor-Leste's prime minister, Marii Alkatiri, who is also the secretary general of Fretili.
This is a film of Fretilin's party activity in the lead up to its national congress held in May this year. The film shows Fretilin members in Atauro, a sub district of the capital Dili, electing their delegates to participate in the national congress.
Francisco "Lu Olo" Guterres and Marii Alkatiri were re-elected president and secretary general of Fretilin respectively during the congress.
Alex Tilman
producer, writer, director: Alex Tilman

Fretilin is the largest plitical party in Timor-Leste. It was formed in 1974 and during the Indonsian invasion and occupation, Fretilin spearheaded the East Timorese resistance.
After the referendum in 1999 which the East Timorese voted overwhelmingly to break away from Indonesia, an election was held in 2001 for a Constituent Assembly. During the election Fretilin won nearly 70% of the total seats in the assembly. May other seats went to smaller break away Fretilin parties which formed after 1999.
The Constuent Assembly was transformed in to the National Parliament and Fretilin formed a government of national inclusion.
Early this year a political military crisis took place in Dili resulting in the forced resignation of Timor-Leste's prime minister, Marii Alkatiri, who is also the secretary general of Fretili.
This is a film of Fretilin's party activity in the lead up to its national congress held in May this year. The film shows Fretilin members in Atauro, a sub district of the capital Dili, electing their delegates to participate in the national congress.
Francisco "Lu Olo" Guterres and Marii Alkatiri were re-elected president and secretary general of Fretilin respectively during the congress.
Alex Tilman
producer, writer, director: Alex Tilman

Interview with Lucia Lobato, the sole female presidential candidate

April 10
1. Social Democratic PartyOffice
2. Partysign
3. Social Democrat Party (PSD) presidential candidate Lucia Lobato, with supporters
4. Close up, Lobato speaking
5. Lobato campaign poster
6. Close up, profile, Lobato speaking
7. Close up, Lobato's hands
8. SOUNDBITE: (English), Lucia Lobato, presidential candidate:
"If I only get to 3 I think for me it is wonderful, because it's the first time I stand for an important election like this and I got a lot of support."
April 9
9. Official reading out ballot as the count starts at polling station
10. People listening to counting
11. Vote being tallied next to Lobato's name on board
12. Fretilin presidential candidate Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres voting
13. Prime Minister and candidate Jose Ramos-Horta holding up ink stained finger after voting
14. CandidateFernando "Lasama" De Araujo waiting to vote
April 10
15. SOUNDBITE: (English), Lucia Lobato, presidential candidate:
"We should change, we should have an alternative. So I think it's better for me (and) Ramos-Horta than Lu-Olo (Francisco Guterres). So if Ramos-Horta went to the second round with Lu-Olo, of course I will ask my people to vote to Ramos-Horta. But if Ramos-Horta and Lasama, (go to the second round), I will ask my people to vote to Lasama."
April 9
16. Close up of East Timor's PresidentXanana Gusmao
17. Gusmao outside polling station waiting to vote
April 10
18. SOUNDBITE: (English), Lucia Lobato, presidential candidate:
"Personally I don't agree with Xanana forming his own party, political party, because I like to see him as a national figure, as a man who would stand above all the parties. So if he has his own party we would stand on the same level. So it is not really a situation I would like to see."
19. Women at roadside
20. Closer, women at roadside
21. Another group of women
22. Woman washing
23. Girl in school uniform
24. SOUNDBITE: (English), Lucia Lobato, presidential candidate:
"Because I am a woman I asked the women to vote for me, because you know it's a good opportunity for the women in East Timor to see not only it belongs to the man, the political arena, but women can play an important role in the political life of this country."
25. Presidential Palace
26. Lobato walks through campaign office
STORYLINE
East Timor waited on tenterhooks on Tuesday as ballots were tallied in presidential elections that many hoped would end instability in the young nation a year after it was pushed to the brink of civil war.
In Dili, the mood at the Social Democratic Party office was upbeat.
Its candidate for the Presidency has had a strong showing, with reports from campaign observers giving her the lead in at least three districts and a strong performance in the capital.
For a party that took only six seats (out of 88) in the country's first Parliamentary election it is an impressive showing.
And for its candidate, the only woman in the field of 8, it is an especially important achievement.
Lucia Lobato has lived in East Timor just about all her life, studying law in Indonesia for a short time.
During the independence struggle she lost her parents and 8 of her 11 siblings but her husband and three children have been especially supportive of her political career. Lobato's 17 year-old son used his first vote in her favour.
Early projections don't have her making the second round, but Lobato is almost jubilant at her showing, saying it encourages her to continue in politics and even to make another Presidential run.
Her party is also happy because there is a chance that Fretilin party candidate Francisco Guterres, or "Lu-Olo" as he is popularly known, will not make the second round.
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/6734c4fe29f072094fe2b323474c1860
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

Interview with East Timor President Taur Matan Ruak

Former guerrilla leader and ex-army chief Taur Matan Ruak was sworn in as East Timor's new president as the young democracy, devastated by decades of conflict, celebrates 10 years of independence. Duration: 01:02.

0:34

Former guerilla leader becomes E Timor president

Former guerilla leader Taur Matan Ruak has won East Timor's presidential election in a sec...

First round of East Timor Election gets underway

(20 Mar 2017) East Timor is voting for a new president in an election that will test Asia's newest and poorest nation.
Francisco "Lu Olo" Guterres, a former guerrilla leader from the leftist Fretilin party, is up against seven other candidates Monday. He and the Democratic Party's Antonio de Conceicao, the minister of education and social affairs, are the front-runners.
His biggest challenger was Antonio de Conceicao from the Democratic Party who is current Minister of Education and Social Affairs.
More than 740,000 of the country's 1.1 million people were expected to vote on Monday.
East Timor's transition to democracy has at times been rocky and its leaders have battled massive poverty, unemployment and corruption.
The country is still recovering from a bloody break for independence from Indonesia more than a decade ago.
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/5598650629c523f8fc9c02395d108e90
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

2:19

East Timor votes for new president

Former military chief Taur Matan Ruak and Fretilin Party candidate Francisco Guterres Lu-O...

Guterres expected to win East Timor presidency

(21 Mar 2017) An unofficial vote count shows a former guerrilla leader has won East Timor's presidency in the first election without UN supervision since peacekeepers left in 2012.
The tally announced on Tuesday by the country's election office, STAE, indicated indicated that Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres had a commanding lead over the Democratic Party's Antonio da Conceicao, who is minister of education and social affairs.
Official results are not expected until next couple of days, but with more than 90 percent of the ballots tallied, Lu-Olo, a 62-year-old former guerrilla commander representing Fretilin, the traditional party of resistance to Indonesian rule, had around 57 percent of votes counted.
Da Conceicao had approximately 32 percent.
To avoid the second round, a candidate has to win more than 50 per cent of the vote.
East Timor's president has a mostly ceremonial role.
East Timorese voted overwhelmingly in 1999 to end 24 years of brutal Indonesian occupation that killed more than 170,000 people.
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/06dc75aac6a76d50b68af4e341dc442a
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

Fretilin's activities

Fretilin is the largest plitical party in Timor-Leste. It was formed in 1974 and during the Indonsian invasion and occupation, Fretilin spearheaded the East Timorese resistance.
After the referendum in 1999 which the East Timorese voted overwhelmingly to break away from Indonesia, an election was held in 2001 for a Constituent Assembly. During the election Fretilin won nearly 70% of the total seats in the assembly. May other seats went to smaller break away Fretilin parties which formed after 1999.
The Constuent Assembly was transformed in to the National Parliament and Fretilin formed a government of national inclusion.
Early this year a political military crisis took place in Dili resulting in the forced resignation of Timor-Leste's prime minister, Marii Alkatiri, who is also the secretary general of Fretili.
This is a film of Fretilin's party activity in the lead up to its national congress held in May this year. The film shows Fretilin members in Atauro, a sub district of the capital Dili, electing their delegates to participate in the national congress.
Francisco "Lu Olo" Guterres and Marii Alkatiri were re-elected president and secretary general of Fretilin respectively during the congress.
Alex Tilman
producer, writer, director: Alex Tilman